Targeted investments in climate science could lead to major benefits in reducing the costs of adapting to a changing climate, according to new research published by scientists from the UK's National Centre for Atmospheric Science.

It is a country with some of the world's richest coral reefs, but scientists fear many of Indonesia's psychedelic reefs, already significantly damaged by blast fishing and pollution, now face an even graver threat: global warming.

From the deck of the research ship Weatherbird II, a California company hopes to prove a controversial theory that putting iron dust in the ocean can produce enough plankton to help save the Earth.

Moving on from the risk of global warming, scientists are now looking for ways to pinpoint the areas set to be affected by climate change, to help countries plan everything from new crops to hydropower dams.

Scientists have reported substantial climate changes in the Arctic Region, a senior official at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) said on Thursday.

Three of Australia's top universities have formed an alliance to take the lead on climate change research in Australia. Victoria's Monash University, the University of New South Wales and the Australian National University in Canberra have formed the alliance.